Signaling or indicating device



v N. DEls'cH SIGNALING OR INDICATING DEVICE July 2s, 1931.

Filed March 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28; 1931. N. DElscH 1,816,112

l SIGNALIG OR INDICATING lDEVICE Filed March 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented `Iuly Z8, y19731 vUMTED STATES PATENT OFFICE NOEL DEISCH,OF'WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLOMBIA', ASSIGNORy OF ONE-HALF TO THOS. E.STONE, JR., E SCARSDALE, NEW YORK SIGNALING yOR, INDICATING DEVCE -4 ,napplicati@ inea March 5, 192s. serial No. 259,329.

rMy invention relates' to signaling or indicatingdevices, and moreparticularlyV to devices of this character relying on an applicationofcolor or color change. n

Theprincipal object or" the invention, generally stated, is to provide acolor indicating or signaling device the color of which is continuouslyvariable through a certain range of hues, to the end that values of thesubject inat- '30 ter of the indication may be shown by correspondingprearranged values of the signal. Thus, for example, a definite value ofa. certain quantity, quality, relation, or condition A maybe denoted bya particular hue or color of they dial or indicating portion of ameasuring instrument, and a change oi value may -be denoted by acorresponding change in the hue orcolor of said dial or indicatingportion ofthe instrument. f Y

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a device, adaptable tomanual or mechanical operation, in which a change of color, bearingcertain definite implications related tothe subject matter to besignaled or indicated, is producedby shifting a line grating consistingof alternate opaque and transparent lines over a coacting gratingconsisting of lines of contrasting colors. y

Another kobject ofthe inventionis to provide an indicating'device, whichmay be incorporated as a component part of va detecting, measuring, orother instrument, and

which includes means permitting easy adjustf ment 'orcalihration of theinstrument or device of which it is a. component, to the end thatAv anindication of a particular quality may be brought into definite relation,with aparticular scalar'value of a-quantity being measured. .j Anotherobject of the invention is to provide anindicating device adapted'togive an y indication of a certain quality at all scalar values'above agiven level ofthe quality measured, and an indication of a dierentquality' at all scalar values below a second given level of the quantitymeasured.

Other objects and advantages of the inven ytion relating to theparticular arrangement 0f the various parts will become apparent as thedescription proceeds. Y

n Referring to the drawings:

' Fig. l is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of two coactinggratings, and illustrates the general principle on which the inventionis based. y

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows a modified :arrangementofthe grating elements. V f

Fig. Sis affront elevation of an embodiment of the invention in whichthe grating elements are carried on flat plates one of which has linearfreedom, and also illu strates an application of the invention to atemperature measuring instrument.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4, t of Fig. 3.

Fig. 'is a view, partly in section, showing an embodiment oftheinvention in which the grating elements are carried on coaxialcylinders, one of which cylinders has freedom along the mutualaxisof thecylinders.

Fig. 6 is a'view, partly in section, showing an embodiment of theinvention in which the grating elements are carried on coaxialcylinders, one of which cylinders has reedom about the mutual axis ofthe cylinders.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 isa view, partly in section, showing an embodiment of theinvention in which the grating` elements are carred on at plates, one ofwhich is pivoted and has rotational freedom. e y g@ i l Fig. 9 is asection on the line 9, 9 of Fig. Y The requirements` governing thepractical application of certain measuring and indicating instrumentsare sometimes such that the visibility of the indication is or" firstimportance, whereas the precision of the indication is governed by verywide tolerances. Such, for example, is the case as respects theindication of the temperature of the cooling water of internalcombustion engines and the running temperature of bearings; or, again,theeiiective pressure in `certain specialized pressure apparatus, as theballonets of airships; or again, the velocity of a certain medium, suchas, for certain aeronautical purposes, the ground speed of the wind, andthe like.

In these cases a merely qualitative indication, or at most an indicationonly roughly secured preferably by the use of pigments.

.The loptical principle on which "the inventionis based is shown'indiagram in Fig. 1, which v'represents Va 'section di tw'o 'gratingrelation. yThe grating member 10 consists' of 1 abase or support`8,-whi"chmay be. a glass plate,be'aring the "grating proper 9, whichlatter consists of afseries of opaque 'linear elements f6 parallel'along Y their' 'main faxes (which axes in the drawing must be'supposedto extend normally to the'plane of'y the printed sheet) and equallyspaced, the width of which, inthe 'case illustrated, is equal to thewidth or' the interspaces 7. The grating member l also consists of asupport 3, bearing a gratingQ consisting of two'series of 'elements 1,'5of substantially equal width, the 'members of each series being ofsubstantially identicalhue, whereas tliehue of Vthetwo f series isdistinguishable.

' :It is apparent that light, incident on either aceof the compoundgrating, willbe'trai'is-V riitted only through the nterspaces 7' betweenthe 'opaqiur'elementsI @of ,the ,grating-'9. I This light willfbefurther transmitted by that'v one of the eleinentsfl or 5 :in the lcolor4grating 2 which, with the two gratings in'tlierel'ation then obtaining,liesiin'mediately VbeforeY the Vtransparentinterspaces 7 of the'grating9.

TheV light transmitted by the "compound grating will hence obviously beot a hue corresponding tothe hue."oft-lie4 elements exposed Y throughthe interspaces-7 iln Fig. "1 this color is represent-ed 'asbeiiiggreen. certain portions rvofflioth' elements andy are exposed through fthe 'interspace, the hue' of the emergentlight' will be the additiveresultant of' the 'respective areas/fof the'two color elements thuseXposecLor in the preferred arrangement' 3of the invention the distancebetween theioliserverandthe instrument will be so great thatthe'eyewiljl be' unable to resolve the `separate.' grating elements, ithese 'latter appearing* to Iruse into a. homogeneous area, thati isvtofs'ay, to? integrate themselves intoa singleeflect. Y

By 'gradually shitting one grating over the other in directionperpendicular to the main axes 'ofthe grating elements, through'hali 'hespacing interval, 4a com-plete 'change or f rlhe opaque elementsfinechanilcal printing process.

kcolor grating may -be'inade by as photographic color extending over theentire area' of the compound grating will occur. Thus, assuming theset-s of be colored red and green, respectively, the pigments being ofproper absorption characteristics, a change'oil hue from Ared,'tolorange, to yellow, to yellowish-green, to green, will grating element.Vlt may'b-e'not'ed.parenthet-` ically'that'the combination or' green andred in the two sets of color elements will be one frequentlyused,because of the common association ol thesetwo colors with safetyand "danger, fand their wide use as signals. Y

VByproviding a color grating of a greater number and diversity ofelements, acting in conjunction `with a suitablyl designed complimentaryopaque line grating, Ea greater elements l and 5 in Fig.y 1 toV VoccurVduring a shift ythrough the width of one Y range of color maybehad.Thus, in Fig.l 2, Y

the grating 1l consists 'of three kinds oi color elements, 13, 11i', and15,alloi` equal width. y 17 Vof theline grating 19 areof doublethe'width of the transparent interspaccs16,"an`d alsooi double'the widthof the color elements 13,14, or colorigrating 11. li it beassuinedvthatthe three class-es of Velements of the color grating 11 arecolored respectively red, blue, and green, as shown in from the bluepositionv along' the screen-in the proper direction, corresponding to-an upward movement of the grating llinthe'figureA will produce thefollowing sequence of colors: blue, blue-green, green, yellowish-green,yellow, orange, red, magenta, purple. lf vthe grating be moved beyondthispositiomtlie cycle of' colors will: bef repeated, and this-succession willA continiieithrough' the entire distance; overewhi'chthe movement `occurs.

Y The' opaque line grating and the color line 'gratingreiier'red to maybe. prodi-icedby any of they recognized methods. Thus, the opaque linegratingmay beinadeby ruling or etch'- ing shallow troughs in a glassplate `and iilling tliese'with` an' lopaque material y"such as lampblackvand' a suitable i binder. Gr it lana-y be made by photographicallyvprinting on a suitable photosensitive surface, or by any suitableprocess such as tliegel=atinebich "cina-te process or the irnbibitionprocess, or, finally, by mechanical printing roma line etching or 15, oithe Fig. 2, a progressive shift A eLikewise the Y especially from. anoffset plate. Either-type et' grating may be made fu-singvitrififablecolors into a glassor porcelain support.

lt will be apparent, ot course, that either one or the other of thescreen supports 3, 8., or 12,18, may be made of a reflecting material,such as' opal glass, and that in this case the instrument will be readby reflected rather than by transmitted light. Again, the elements oithe color gratings 2 or 11V' may? be rintrinsically -of a 'reliectingnature,jand in this case also the instrument may be 'readfby reiiectedIlight.

Referring ,now to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, which ly securedin a recess 38 agrating support 37 carryinga grating 33, and a second and movable yframe24 holding in a recess39 a grating support 25 carrying a grating 35. Theframe 24 with its associated grating 35 has freedom in a directionperpendicular tothe main axes of the grating elements through the actionof the guide-rods'20, 28, which slidein guidewaves 34, 36, provided inthe fixed frame 23. s Threaded on an extension of one of the guide-rods28 are the adjusting screws 29, 30,

by means of which the point of attachment of the actuating meansA may bevaried along the length of the rod, thus adjusting the grat-ing alongits axis of motion with respect to the grating 33. By this provision, itis obvious, the instrument may be calibrated to give a definite colorindication at a given scalar value of the condition or relationmeasured. Threaded through the frame 23 are the adjustable abutmentstops 2l, 27, with asg '.sociated lock-nuts 22, 26, by which the grat-king member 25 is restrained from moving through more than a definiteinterval. At all sealer values above a. certain level of the quantitymeasured the grating A35 will be held in one position, and at all scalar`valves belowr a second level of the quanti- 'ty measured it will beheld in the other posif tion', the indication being continually of the'one quality in thevone position and of the vother quality in the otherposition, and showy'ing a transition of quality only in the in tervalbetween the two levels.

lt` will be apparent that the construction thus far described may beused in diverse coniiections, since the rod 28 may be attached to anysuitable or preferred operating means. By way ofjillustration only therod 28 is here shown attached to a bmetallic thermostatc 1 strip 3lsupported on the projection 32 of the "i frame-23- VlVhen thethermostatic strip is warped by a changel of temperature, the motion ofits free end, 'communicated through the rod 28 to franie24, moves thelatter and f its attached grating 35 over the contacting 'I grating 33thereby causing the 'succession of color effects described above.Although the instrument as shown in'Fig'.' 3 and Fig. 4, therefore,constitutes a temperature indicating instrument, it will be understoodthat i no such limitationV is contemplated, and that may be changed,with-out departing from the' spirit or purpose of the invention.

As an illustration of such an alternative arrangement, an embodiment ofthe inven.

tion is shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, wherein coaxial cylinders fittingone over the other arer employedas grating supports, and in which isalso illustrated the incorporation of an artificial illuminating meanswithin the indicating device to promote visibility.

Referring to Fig. 5, 40 is a fixed grating support, and 4l a movablelgrating support, the grating elements carried by which are arrangedcircumferentially Iof the cylinders, as shown at 43. The movable gratingsupport 4l bears in fixed relation to itself the unction rod 44, thefree end of which may be attached to any suitable instrumental actuatingmeans capable of giving it motion in the direction indicated by thearrows, thus imparting an appropriate linear motion to the gratingsupport 4l. The light source 42 serves to illuminate the indicator.

In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 the grating supports are arranged as in Fig. 5,being the fixed support and 46 the movable support. The grating elementsin this case are oriented as shown at 48, that is, longitudinally of thecylinders. rlhe unction rod 50, which may be attached to any suitableactuating means, and which acts through the pin 49 held in fixedrela-tion with the grating support 46, moves in the direction indicatedby the arrows, imparting an appropriate rotatoiy motion to the gratingsupport 46. A light source 47y illuminates the indicator.

Referring to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, still another arrangement of theinvention is shown, in which 54 is a flat lixed support and 55 a fiatmovable support pivoted at 56, and bearing grating elements oriented asshown at 5l,

that is, radially. The junction rod 52, whichA may be attached to anysuitable actuating means, and which acts through the pin 53, secured tothe grating support 55, serves to give an appropriate rotationalmovement to the grating Asupport 55. l

It will further be obvious that instead of the pin-and-rodv turningmeans illustrated at 49, 50, in Figs. G and 7, and at 53, 52, in Figs. 8and 9, a Bourdon tube or other actuating device capable of giving adirect turning moment to the cylinder or disk, respectively,

might be used. It is also apparent that the detecting component of themeasuring instrument which might be, for example, the bulb portion of avapor-pressure thermoineter) might be placed at a considerable distancefrom the indicating component of the instrument, following alreadyestablished practice in distant reading instruments.

Further, as respects the gratings proper, it

will manifestly be possible to use lother color combinations than thosesuggested, or tol adopt a different ratio governing the widths of theelements of the opaque or of the color line grating. Thus a workablecombination having certain advantages could be had by assembling-anopaque: line grating .Whose-ra:-

,3 r. en)

Y the' appendedclaims;

prising also a plurality of spaced opaque ele v tio ofopaquev elementLto transparent interspacewere ll: QQratlier thanQ: l., asshoivn; at .c

19in Fig. 2), in relation., Withjatcompoundfi tri-celered-Vgrating.;ofthe type .slioivnatf1l,y

in Fig; In this casethey Widths. off the..

opaque elements in thev` opaque'` grating is.A Inadeto-,equa-l `theWidths'oflthe colori elements in the; color grating.

Whilehave described-my." invention in., detail with respect-topreferred.l formstliereof; lido not=desifre-to belini-itedltothefor-ms.J

described, since many changes or modifica.-

tions may be madein these .forms Without dei parting from the spirit'andscopeof my invention, and I= desireto cover all modifica-l tionsaiidforms coming Within the scope of W'hat I claim,V is

l. A signaling or indicating device includ.- ing a'icolor signalmade upofaplurality of discrete and distinguishable` color elements, saidYcolor'elemen-ts being of' a dimensionsuch that the aggregateofi,elementsfusefinto a. substantially'homogeneous visual effect at thenormal distance at Whichthe signalinglorl indicatingdevi'ceis observed,meansfor selectively limiting the visible area-of said colorel'em'entsto` define the-'quality Y of=` saidhomd geneous visual effect,andmeans-responsive to a quantity-tobe-indicatednto change-the relationof said area-limitingvfmeansto said color elements to cause -aV changeofqualityV in the homogeneousavisualV effect.'A

2. A, signaling or indicating device.. conn prising l a compositel-colorvsignal consisting ofidistinctive color elements theV visual angleofwvliichis so small'y at'the normalWorking;y

indicated, for selectivelymaslring said coloreleinents of' said' signalto convey*intelligence` relative to the` subjectmatter. tol besignaled.' or indicated. i I

3; fr signaling vor indicating deviceacomprisingv a composite colorsignall resolvable intey components individuallyfhomogeneons butseverally. offheterogeneousih-ue, andv means, responsive to a quantity,relation, orcondition to be indicated, wherebyl certain` sets ofcomponents mayjbeY differentially exposedor occult'ed 4L. A signalingor.indicating deyicencom prising aplurality of spaced'elements of-Jinorerthan onezdistinctive visual quality arL ranged in cyclically.recurring order; comments adapted tov selectively. maskV` saidjfirstmentioned elements, and meansV actuable'bya irce generatedby a quantity,to beindicated, to changef'tlie masking relation ,of said itivo setsof.elements.iv 1 y 5. l An ind' eating, devicecomprising a Vplurality ofvequally spaced, thin, linear, opaque elementsecoalcting WitliN apluralityfof equally spaced,. thin,l linear color elements, and

means'actuable bit ay force @eneratedb a.

elements5the other of said gratingscomposed ofia plurality of equallyspacedlinearV colorelements arranged inl sets, the elements. of any oneAset being'of similar hue, the Vrelative spacing of; the. color elementsbeing;4 such.

that: the. integrated' color, visible 4 through the transparentinterspaces ofy thel opaque line grating is. simstantiallyf of constantquality over the.-` entire areaof said? grating and means-actuabie byaforce generated by a quantity or condition. to kbe measured Wherebtyoneoifsaid line gratings is movedl over the. other lineV gratingfto produceapcoloreffeet of'iquaiity correspondingatanysetting: toa definitevalue;of' the quality, relation,

or conditionto.befmeasured.

- 7i An indicator.v for measuring'devices i'ncl-tiding aplurality. of:coacting gratings comprisin-g differently coloredthin linear elements,and'lmeans. actuable by a force.V gen-v eratedby a quantity or.condition to bemeasiii-'edito` effect'. a=.relative displacement`ofrelements of the gratingsito'give a variable color.

eti-ect.

8; Anindieating dev-icev includingcoact-` ingY relatively movable line.gratings, coinl sing opaque lines'and .lines of one or moredistinguishable colors soarrangedV that,r the.r coloredf' lines maybediiierentia'lly exposedy throughtlie interspaces between the opaquelines to'give a variable color effect, the quality ofsaidl color effectat'any given setting conrespoiidingto -al definite value of vthequality, relation, or condition Ato be measureda '9k A; signaling orindicating device .coinprising-two coacting gratings inapposed relation, theelementsof-'one of saidgratings. being alternately opaque andtransparent,` the elements oftheother of Isaid` gratings be ingcomposedof distinguishable colors systematically arranged, whereby anintegratedcolor is'produced the quality of Whichis dependent on4 the relative.positionv ot overlap of the elements `ofsaid gratings, and means.

ings, one an opaque line grating and the other a multicolor linegrating, said gratings being adapted to produce a-c'hange Vof integratedcolor throughl a certain range of colors depending on the overlappingrelation or" the elements of vsaid gratings, and means responsive to aquantity, relation, or conditionto be indicated, to move the gratingsinto different positions of overlap to produce colors corresponding todelinite valuesof the quantity to be measured. f

11. An indicating device for measuring instruments .comprising tWomutually movable juxtaposed coactmg gratings, and comprising alsoconnecting means for receiving and transmitting to one of the gratingsthe applied force of the measuring component of the instrument, andmeans for altering the "relation of said connecting means to the jmovement of said movable support, bimetallick orce-generatingmeans toallow of calibrating the instrument. n

12. An indicating device for measuring instruments including relativelyymovable gratings comprising opaque lines and lines of distinguishablecolors s0 arranged that the colored lines'may be moved apparentlybetween the opaque lines to give a variable color effect, means to guidethe gratings in their :relative movement, and operating means actuableby a force generated by the condition to be measured. y

13. AnL indicator comprising relatively movable line gratings mounted onsupports Whose opposed surfaces represent ligures of revolution, andmeans for effecting the replative movement of one grating over the othergrating about the common-axis, whereby the lines of the one grating aremoved in a cur,- vilnear path over the lines of the other grating. j i n14. A temperature indicating instrument comprising relatively movablesupports carrying coacting gratings comprising differently colored thinlinear elements, means for generating a force under the influence oftemperature changes, and means for transmitting such force from saidmeanus to one of said supports to cause relative movement of saidgratings.

' 15. A temperature indicating instrument including relatively movablesupports carryunder the iniiuencey oftemperature changes,

" and means for causing one of said supports to move in unison With thechanges of form of said thermo-responsive element.

, 16. A temperature indicating instrument comprising a frame, a supportcarrying a grating fixed in said frame, a second support carrying agrating adapted to move relatively to said frame, meansk for guiding thethermostatic means capable of spontaneous Vmovement under the influenceof temperature rcomprising a frame, a support carrying a grating fixedin said frame, a second support carrying a grating adapted to moveWithin said frame,fmeans for guiding the movement of said movablesupport, a thermo-responsive medium adapted to expand and to contractunder the iniiuence of temperature changes, means actuated by theexpansive force of said medium for moving said movable support in onedirection, and means actuated by thev contractive force of said mediumfor moving said movable support in an opposite direction.

18. A temperature indicating instrument comprising a frame, a supportcarrying a grating fixed in said frame, a movable frame, a secondsupport carrying a grating fixed in said movable frame, a motiontransmitting member in engagement With said movable frame, bimetallicthermostatic means adapted to actuate said motion transmitting member,and means limiting the extent of movement With said movable Jframe,bimetallic if." tliermostatic means adapted to actuate said motiontransmitting member, and adjustable means limiting the extent ofmovement of said movable frame,

20. A temperature indicating instrument comprising a frame, a supportcarrying a grating fixed in said frame, a movable frame, a secondsupport carrying a grating fixed in said movable frame, one of saidgratings comprising a plurality of spaced, thin, linear color elements,the other of said gratings comprising a plurality of spaced', thin,linear opaque elements adapted to selectively mask said color elementsto produce a coloreffect which is diierent at different relativepositions ofsaid gratings, a motion transmitting member 1n adjustableengagement with said movable frame, bimetallic thermostatic meansadapted to actuate said motion transmitting member, and. adjustableabutting means to arrest said movable frame at a position correspondingto a desired color effect.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. NOEL DEISCH.

